NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: 4 February 2005
Discovery (OV-103)
Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 12 to June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Orbiter system testing is about 85 percent complete on Discovery for Return to Flight mission (STS-114) to the International Space Station. In Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 3, testing includes Auxiliary Power Unit controller checkout, External Tank door functional tests, and filling the water spray boiler tanks.
Rudder Speed Brake seals installation is complete and Thermal Protection System blanket bonding continues on the vertical stabilizer. Checkout work is ongoing with the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) on the starboard side of Discovery’s payload bay. Since the OBSS is a new piece of hardware, the payload bay doors were closed for clearance checks. Wire harness continuity checks continue on the Manipulator Positioning Mechanism, which are the pedestals that hold and latch the boom in the payload bay. In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) for the STS-114 mission are stacked on the Mobile Launcher Platform and final closeouts continue.
On the Solid Rocket Booster hardware for the following mission, STS-121, paint flaking was found on the aft inactive stub, an attach ring surrounding the booster located approximately 10 feet below the point where the External Tank is mated to the SRBs. Program management determined pull tests of that area should be completed on Discovery’s stack as well. Although no paint flaking was found, the tests did show some areas of low paint adhesion. Technicians will repair the areas of concern. The External Tank is scheduled to be moved to the integration cell and mated with the Solid Rocket Boosters on Feb. 21. This should not affect Discovery’s roll over to the VAB for mating.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module/Crew Rotation
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 – August 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Processing and system testing continues on Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 for its mission to the International Space Station. The final body flap actuator was installed on Atlantis in preparation for body flap installation early next week. The Rudder Speed Brake installation is nearly complete, with seal installation and Thermal Protection System blanket bonding on the vertical stabilizer ongoing.
The left-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) pod that was removed from Atlantis was moved to the Hypergol Maintenance Facility on Monday. The pod was removed so that inspections could be performed on the thrusters. Following thorough inspections of the thrusters on another OMS pod that will replace the one removed will be transferred to the bay for installation on the vehicle. Cable installation for the new wing leading edge accelerometer sensors in the right-hand wing is complete. Water Spray Boiler No. 3 checkout was successfully completed. Radar altimeter testing is complete. Installation of the right- and left-hand main landing gear environmental seal continues.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.
